Installing Windows 7 on a netbook

There are three recommended ways to install Windows 7 on a netbook or other PC that doesn't have an internal DVD drive:

Purchase and download Windows 7 from the Microsoft Store as an installation file. When you download Windows 7 in this format, you can install Windows 7 on your netbook just like any other program, with no additional tools or hardware. For more information about the options available in your country or region, go to the Microsoft Store website.
Purchase and download Windows 7 from the Microsoft Store as an ISO file, and copy it to a USB flash drive. If you need to start, or boot, your PC during Windows 7 installation (for example, if you want to format your hard disk during installation), you can download Windows 7 in a special format called an ISO file and use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool to create a USB flash drive, which you can then use to install Windows 7 on your netbook.
Use an external DVD drive. If you already have a Windows 7 installation disc, you can attach an external DVD drive to your netbook to install Windows 7.

For more information about upgrading to Windows 7, see Upgrading to Windows 7: frequently asked questions.

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Before you begin: Is your netbook ready for Windows 7?

To make sure your netbook (or any PC) can run all of the features included in Windows 7, check out the Windows 7 system requirements.

We also recommend downloading and running the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. It helps find potential issues with your computer's hardware, devices, or programs that might affect Windows 7 installation, and gives recommendations on what to do.

The Upgrade Advisor can also tell you whether your netbook can run more advanced features, such as Peek and Shake, available in certain editions of Windows 7. For more information about these features, see What's new with the Windows desktop?

Note

Windows 7 is designed for monitors that use a minimum screen resolution of 800 × 600 pixels. If your netbook doesn't support this screen resolution, some dialog boxes and text might appear cut off. If this occurs, you might need to connect the netbook to a larger external monitor.

Using an installation file to install Windows 7

Installing Windows 7 using the installation file you downloaded to your netbook is the easier option—just double-click the file, and Windows 7 installation begins. For more information about the options available in your country or region, go to the Microsoft Store website.

However, if you need to start, or boot, your PC during installation, you'll need to either download the ISO file and copy it to a USB flash drive, or use a Windows 7 installation disc and an external DVD drive. For more information, see "Using a USB flash drive to install Windows 7" and "Using an external DVD drive to install Windows 7" later in this topic.

To download the Windows 7 installation file

Go to the Microsoft Store website and complete your purchase.
On the Order Receipt webpage, click the Additional Download Options drop-down list, click either Download 32-bit or Download 64-bit, depending on which version of Windows 7 you want to install, and then click Download.
To install Windows 7 immediately, in the Download Manager dialog page, click Install to begin the installation. To install Windows 7 later, browse to the installation file you downloaded to your PC, and then double-click the Windows 7 setup file (identified as an Application file under the Type column).
Follow the instructions to finish installing Windows 7.

For detailed instructions on installing Windows 7, see Installing and reinstalling Windows 7. For more information about 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows, see 32-bit and 64-bit Windows: frequently asked questions.

Using a USB flash drive to install Windows 7

You can download Windows 7 from the Microsoft Store as an ISO file, and then use a 4 gigabyte (GB) or larger USB flash drive to install Windows 7. You can use the USB flash drive to start, or boot, your netbook during Windows 7 installation if you want to do any of the following:

Format the hard disk or perform other advanced disk management tasks—such as creating, extending, or deleting partitions—during Windows 7 installation.
Install Windows 7 on a netbook that isn't running Windows XP or Windows Vista.
Install a 64-bit version of Windows 7 on a netbook running a 32-bit version of Windows. (Many netbooks aren't 64-bit capable. Use the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to find out if your netbook can run a 64-bit operating system.)

To copy the ISO file to the USB flash drive, we recommend you use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool. It transfers the ISO file to the USB flash drive (or to a DVD) and converts the drive so that you can use it to install Windows 7.

Notes

You can't install Windows 7 using the ISO file itself, or by simply copying the ISO file to a USB flash drive. You need to use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool or other tool from another software provider.
You can download the ISO file and create the USB flash drive on another PC before installing it on your netbook. For example, if your netbook meets the minimum disk space requirements for installation but lacks enough free space to download or install Windows 7, you can download the ISO file to another PC and create the USB drive there. Then, you can insert the USB drive into your netbook to install Windows 7.
Most newer PCs can start from a USB device, but some older PCs might not have this capability. For more information, check the documentation that came with your computer or go to the manufacturer's website.

To purchase and download Windows 7 online as an ISO file

Go to the Microsoft Store website and complete your purchase.
On the Order Receipt webpage, click the Additional Download Options drop-down list, click either Download 32-bit ISO or Download 64-bit ISO, depending on which version of Windows 7 you want to install, and then click Download.

For more information about 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows, see 32-bit and 64-bit Windows: frequently asked questions.

To download and install the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

Go to the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool webpage on the Microsoft Store website.
Under Installation, follow the instructions to download and install the tool on your PC.

To copy the Windows 7 ISO file to a USB flash drive

Before you begin:

Make sure you've already purchased and downloaded the Windows 7 ISO file to your PC.
Make sure you've copied any files on the USB flash drive to an external location. The Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool will erase any data on the USB flash drive.

Click the Start button , click All Programs, click the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool folder, and then click Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.
Under Step 1 of 4: Choose ISO file, click Browse, browse to the Windows 7 ISO file you downloaded, click it, click Open, and then click Next.
Under Step 2 of 4: Choose media type, click USB device.
Under Step 3 of 4: Insert USB device, click your USB flash drive in the drop-down list, and then click Begin copying.
If you see a dialog box that says that there isn't enough free space on the USB flash drive, click Erase USB Device, and then click Yes.
When the process is finished, click the Close button in the upper-right corner of the window.

To install Windows 7 using a USB flash drive

If you don't need to start your netbook using the USB flash drive, you can simply browse to the USB flash drive, and then double-click setup.exe to begin Windows 7 installation.

To start your netbook using the USB flash drive:

Turn off your netbook, insert the USB flash drive, and then restart your netbook.
Press any key when prompted, and then follow the instructions that appear.
On the Install Windows page, choose your language and other preferences, and then click Next.

If the Install Windows page doesn't appear, and you're not asked to press any key, you might need to change some system settings. To learn how to do this, see Start your computer from a Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive.
Follow the instructions to finish installing Windows 7.

For detailed instructions on installing Windows 7, see Installing and reinstalling Windows 7.

Using an external DVD drive to install Windows 7

If you already have a Windows 7 installation disc, you can use an external DVD drive to install Windows 7. Plug the external drive into a USB port on your netbook, insert the installation disc into the DVD drive, and then begin installing Windows 7. For more information, see Start your computer from a Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive.

For detailed instructions on installing Windows 7, see Installing and reinstalling Windows 7.

Note

If you don't have an external DVD drive, a local computer store might be able to install Windows 7 for you using your installation disc.

Troubleshooting low disk space errors

If your netbook's hard disk meets the minimum disk space requirements for installation but lacks enough free space to download or install Windows 7, you might need to free up disk space on your netbook. For more information, see Delete files using Disk Cleanup.

If you can't free up enough disk space to download or install Windows 7, you can download the ISO to another PC and use that PC to create the USB drive. Then, you can start, or boot, your netbook using the USB flash drive, and format the hard disk during Windows 7 installation to free up disk space.

Warnings

Formatting a drive during Windows 7 installation permanently deletes all of your programs, settings, and files. For step-by-step instructions on how to do this, see "Using the Custom installation option and formatting the hard disk" in Installing and reinstalling Windows 7.
Don't use a program from another software manufacturer to reformat your hard disk prior to installing Windows 7. Instead, format the hard disk during the Windows 7 installation process.

Article ID: MSW700009

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